Memorial Day tends to be the unofficial start to summer for many people and that means a multitude of entertainment options.
Here are some fun events happening from May 26 to Aug. 31 in the Southland.
Vet Fest 141 Foundation concerts
LOCASH with Hillbilly Rockstarz starts this series at 6 p.m. May 26 at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park. Tickets are $35 for ages 21 and older; free for veterans, active-duty military, police, fire department and first responders. At 3359 W. 115th St. 708-388-8881; 115bourbonstreet.com or vetfest141.org.
Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre season opener
Janet Jackson with Ludacris begins the season at 7:45 p.m. May 27 at this venue formerly known as Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park. Tickets are $24-$499. At 19100 S. Ridgeland Ave. 708-614-1616 or season tickets at 866-847-8499; livenation.com.
CD&ME’s Thursday night concerts
This series includes Hairbanger’s Ball at 8 p.m. June 1 at CD&ME in Frankfort. Tickets are $10-$22.50. A season pass for shows to Sept. 28 plus Halloween Bash ’23 is $300 through May 31. At 23320 S. LaGrange Road. 815-469-7315; cdandme.co.
Homewood Artisan Street Fair
The village and Loulou Belle present this event from 4 to 9 p.m. June 2 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 3 in downtown Homewood. Admission is free. At Martin Avenue and Hickory Road. 708-798-3000 or 708-673-9040; village.homewood.il.us
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.Fox Pointe’s Wednesday night concerts
Dick Diamond and The Dusters with Chicole starts this series at 6 p.m. June 7 at this venue in Lansing. Admission is free. At 18138 Henry St. 708-895-7204; foxpointe.org.
Rooftop Summer Music Series
These concerts include Steepwater Band at 7 p.m. June 9 at Joliet Area Historical Museum. Tickets are $10; $8 for members. Table reservations also are available. At 204 Ottawa St. 815-723-5201; jolietmuseum.org.
VVAC Food Truck & Art Festival
This event, which includes The Walls Have Eyes exhibit reception and a Joe Orozco and The StingRays gazebo concert, is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 10 at Vogt Visual Arts Center in Tinley Park. Admission is free. At 17420 S. 67th Court. 708-614-6503; tinleyparkdistrict.org/vvac.
Country Club Hills Theater season opener
Will Downing and Norman Brown start the season at 7 p.m. June 17 at this venue. Tickets are $59-$125. At 4150 W. 183rd St. 708-798-2616; countryclubhills.org.
Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash Festival
Kid Cudi, Future and Playboi Carti headline this at noon June 23 to 25 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. Tickets are $275 for general admission; $499 for VIP; $1,199 Diamond VIP. At 7000 S. Harlem Ave. 708-594-7200; seatgeekstadium.com.
Frankfort Bluegrass Festival
The Travelin’ McCourys and Tim O’Brien Band headline this 11th annual event at 10 a.m. July 8 and 9 on Briedert Green. Admission is free. At Kansas and Oak streets. 815-469-6321 (Steve Haberichter at Down Home Guitars); frankfortbluegrassfest.com.
Palos Hills’ Friendship Fest
A carnival and live music are included from 6 to 10:30 p.m. July 13, 6 p.m. to midnight July 14, noon to midnight July 15 and 1 to 10:30 p.m. July 16 at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills. Admission is free. At 9000 W. College Parkway. 708-430-4500; paloshillsweb.org and click on Friendship Fest under Parks & Recreation in Departments.
RidgeFest in Chicago Ridge
Entertainment headliners including Ted Nugent along with Restaurant Row are part of this festival from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. July 28, 3 to 11:30 p.m. July 29 and 3 to 10:30 p.m. July 30 at Freedom Park. Admission prices are to be determined. At 6252 Birmingham St. 708-425-7700; chicagoridge.org.
Taste of Orland Park
Local restaurants and live music are part of this 20th anniversary event from 5 to 11 p.m. Aug. 4, 1 to 11 p.m. Aug 5 and 1 to 9 p.m. Aug 6 outside Village Hall. Admission is free. At 14700 Ravinia Ave. 708-403-6283; orlandpark.org.
Will County Fair
The 120th installment of this Will County Fair Association event is from 8 a.m. to midnight Aug. 23 to 27 at Will County Fairgrounds in Peotone. Admission is $1 Aug. 23 for Family Day, $2 Aug. 24 for Seniors & Veterans Day and $5 daily Aug. 24 to 27; free for ages 9 and younger daily. At 710 S. West St. 708-258-9359; willcountyfair.org
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.Hickory Hills Carnival
This sixth annual event is from 5 to 10 p.m. Aug. 24, 5 to 11 p.m. Aug. 25, noon to 11 p.m. Aug. 26 and noon to 10 p.m. Aug 27 at Kasey Meadow Park. Mega Pass is sold July 31 to Aug. 23 for $55. Daily passes are sold on-site. At 8047 W. 91st Place. 708-598-1233; hhparkdistrict.org can click on Special Events under Events & Activities in Programs & Registration.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.